It is a fact of life that caregiving is not an easy task. Sometimes it can be downright hard work, frustrating and exhausting to say the least.

Sooner or later most live-in carers come to a point where they feel they are ready to give up, follow a different career choice or simply retire. While they may not always follow through with this thought, there may be a time when it is the right choice.

 

How can you tell if this is the right decision?

Here are five points to ponder and then decide whether you need time off caring and possibly follow a different path.

 

You snap quicker

Becoming irritated faster with things that a year ago you were more tolerant of may be a sign that you need a break of some kind, particularly when it is the same thing that you are now getting more irritated with than some time ago.

 

You find it hard to sleep

Because live-in care can often include night calls, when they don’t happen, you may still find yourself awake and waiting for them to happen. Tis means that you never get a decent night’s sleep yourself and the following day can become even more frustrating and stressful.

 

Most of the time you are exhausted

Even after your break and time off you may still find that you feel permanently exhausted. Not just tired, but exhausted. You may battle to get through all the things you need to do during the day and even a nap will not relieve this exhaustion.

 

Your own health worsens

Simply because of the work live-in carers do, often our own health is neglected. We may tend to skip doctor’s appointments while taking care of a client.

We may not eat or exercise as we should, and it may seem that you catch every cold that is going around. This indicates that your own immune system is not as good as it could be because you are not paying enough attention to yourself and your body.

 

Your hobbies have ground to a halt

No matter what your hobby is, perhaps walking, reading, jogging, or simply catching up on emails to friends and family, when this seems to stop because you are too tired to do them, it is time to ask if you need a break.

 

Final thoughts

If you feel that you are reaching this time or have reached it, you may want to ask family or friends to step in while you take a break or have a few days off.

Normally this will rejuvenate you. If not, and you come back to work as exhausted as you left, maybe you should ask if it is time, you tried a different career, even for a short time, until you are less exhausted.

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